ALBUM REVIEW: Eulogy - Memento Mori

EULOGY (Wales)
"Memento Mori"
(One Eyed Toad Records)
Release date: February 21st 2020
Genre: Hard rock, heavy rock

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Heavy rock is probably not the first thing that comes to mind whenever Wales is mentioned, unless you're a die hard Budgie fan, of course. Cardiff based EULOGY is a power trio formed in early 2017, and released their three track debut EP "Back to Life" already in December the same year. After their debut, EULOGY have been streamed no less than 200.000 times on Spotify, which itself should be an indication of success, and they spent 2018 on stages within and beyond the Welsh borders. A new track, "Blood Red Skies" was released in November 2019 as a teaser from their then upcoming sophomore EP "Memento Mori", which has now been out for almost a month on One Eyed Toad Records.

After their success with "Back to Life", the lads in EULOGY wanted to explore a darker and heavier sound on their next release. Whereas the debut had a melodic, energetic and feelgood vibe, the four tracks on "Memento Mori" sure are darker around the edges. Mike Williams' guitars are heavier and more fierce, have quite an amount of low-end, and with Neil Thomas providing the even deeper frequencies with his bass he creates an almost impenetrable wall of powerchord oriented riffs.

The opening track "Cross to Bare" introduces the darker side of EULOGY. In terms of composition it is a fairly straight forward tune, but the genre in which this Welsh power trio operates there has never been focus on anything else but energy and power, something this track suffers no shortage from. Thomas' vocals have a raw Blackie Lawness-ish feel that to this listener fits really well.

"You'll Die Alone" is another track that was released as a single, and with its emphasis on melody and vast quantities of catchy hooks it is what many would probably call a perfect choice for a single. The lyrical theme on "Corvid" is based around the final moments before death, just before the soul's departure of the soul. Tempowise it is faster and balances on the edge between heavy rock and metal.

"Blood Red Skies" was mentioned further up in the article, and also contains the ingredients that make up a natural choice for a single. The riffs are once again more melodic than on the non-single tracks, and the song sounds overall a bit 80's inspired.

EULOGY have been set for touring throughout 2020 to support their most recent release, so if you get the chance to catch them somewhere along their trek across Great Britain, be sure to pay them a visit.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Tracklist:
1. Cross To Bare*
2. You'll Die Alone
3. Corvid
4. Blood Red Skies*

*Added to the Subterranean Noise - 2020 playlist on Spotify.

LINE UP:
Neil Thomas - bass and vocals
Mike Williams - guitars
Darran Goodwin - drums

ALBUM REVIEW: Battering Ram - Battering Ram

BATTERING RAM (Sweden)
"Battering Ram"
(Independent)
Release date: January 24th 2020
Genre: Hard rock, modern heavy rock

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BATTERING RAM is a Swedish four piece constellation that wholeheartedly fulfill the promise that their band name makes. That being said, I am sure it's already apparent what we're having to do with here, but let's have a closer look anyway, shall we?

Formed in late 2017, the band consists of Johan, Jonas, Jocke and Tony, who have made it their collective mission to create rock music that makes you feel good. As the name clearly indicates their art is of the hard hitting kind, and the nine tracks that make up their self titled debut are all melodic and powerful hard rock anthems with a punch that makes a fist to the face feel like a goddamn cottonball.

BATTERING RAM at times sound like a hybrid of Mustasch, Anvil, Anthrax and Volbeat with a dash of Mötley Crue and Poison. In other words, it has all the ingredients that make you want to move. It's difficult to pick favorites, but "Taking My Time", the groovy "Stronger Forever" and "Chase the Fire" are just a few selections from this 41 minute bulldozer of a hard rock album.

"Battering Ram" is far from being a complex record, and very often that's exactly what the doctor ordered. The production on the album is fairly loud, but then again, that's the only way to play it!

Now, do yourself a favor and check out BATTERING RAM while I go and crack a beer.

★★★★★★★★★★

Tracklist:
1. Taking the Time*
2. The Sign
3. Stronger Forever
4. I Will Come Alone
5. Chase the Fire*
6. Scared For My Life
7. Coming My Way
8. Wanted Man
9. Cut In Two

*Added to the Subterranean Noise - 2020 playlist on Spotify.

LINE UP:
Johan Hallström - vocals
Jonas Edmark - guitar
Jocke Ståhl - bass
Tony Trust - drums

SINGLE REVIEW: First Revival - Twisted Mind

FIRST REVIVAL (Sweden)
"Twisted Mind"
(Independent)
Release date: June 2nd 2018
Genre: Heavy rock, heavy metal
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From Luleå in the north of Sweden comes a four-piece band that has endured several line-up transformations during its short existence. Initially a quintet, the band that was later to become FIRST REVIVAL was formed in the spring of 2016 with another name and a different line-up, and released an EP that had a more modern sound than what they have today.

FIRST REVIVAL's first release with the current line-up was the single we're having a closer look at today, "Twisted Mind". It shows a band that is clearly inspired by 70's heavy rock, but chooses to honor it in a more modern sounding manner.



A quick description of the track could be that it is like listening to Motörhead playing an Anvil track with Tom G. Warrior (Hellhammer/Celtic Frost/Triptykon) on vocals. Never really a demanding track to lend the ears to, but the riffs are sharp and to the point, and the song as a whole is well arranged and has a catchy drive.

The band is currently recording their first full-length album, set for release some time in the spring of 2020, and if FIRST REVIVAL maintains the sound and quality that their debut single has, then I dare to predict they're heading for success.

★★★★★★★★★☆

Tracklist (*added to the "Subterranean Noise" playlist on Spotify):
1. Twisted Mind*

LINE UP:
Hasse - vocals and bass
Simone - guitar
Kristoffer- guitar
Johan - drums

ALBUM REVIEW: Scarecrow - Scarecrow

SCARECROW (Russia)
"Scarecrow"
(Independent)
Release date: September 13th 2019
Genre: Heavy blues, blues rock, heavy rock
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SCARECROW is a group from Perm, a city in the western part of Russia, close to the foot of the Ural Mountains. According to the band themselves it is a dark and hostile place to exist, with a lot of swamps and forests around the city, and consequently a perfect place to find inspiration for their dark, heavy blues rock.

The band has existed since 2013, and is of a quartet format. Their main musical influences are late 60's/early 70's heavy rock, and Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath are probably the most obvious mentions in this case. SCARECROW's music can be described as heavy blues rock with symphonic elements and hints of swing/jazz. The songs and the production on their self titled debut have captured the same dark vibe that Black Sabbath did on their debut, but SCARECROW have taken it one step further and added their own flavors to it.

An orchestral overture is the first of the eight tracks on "Scarecrow" or "Volume I", as the band tends to call it, and when it ends I find myself waiting for a brutal death metal assault. Overtures are not the most common features on a heavy rock album, so it is indeed an interesting combination.

"The Journey" is the point where this Russian quartet introduce themselves, and it is a song that immediately revives the dark, doomy spirit that was born on Black Sabbath's debut. The harmonica is present, the catchy guitar licks that are vital to bring life into any blues song, and even the vocal lines sound unmistakably inspired by Ozzy. Singer Artemis has a very high voice that bears comparison to Geddy Lee and Budgie's Burke Shelley, and they are double tracked and panned hard left and right for a fuller vocal sound - as was a commonly used technique on Black Sabbath's earlier records as well.

Things are slowed down a bit on "The Final Problem", and I'm tempted to call it occult blues. "When the Powers of Evil are Exalted" introduces the flute, and "Worm of Anger" is a pure gem of catchy heavy rock.

"Autumn Wood" is the calmest track on the album, and a fine little smooth jazzy blues ballad. It reaches heavier peaks at times, but all in all it showcases a rather different side of the band. A very good one too, might I add.

"Madman" brings the orchestra back in to join the band, and the combination of doomy hard rock and strings proves to be a successful one. To my personal taste the orchestra is a bit too loud in the mix, but let's not get too preoccupied with splitting hairs. The riffs sound very like those created by Tony Iommi himself, and they form a solid base upon which the orchestra can be allowed to shine.

"Scarecrow" introduces another new element during the opening seconds. There is an eerie mood all the way through the song, and the sounds of wind and crows are there to just make it more creepy. Eventually the guitar and orchestra join hands for an ominous riff passage, and it sounds like the soundtrack from an old Vincent Price movie. A perfect, slightly more dramatic conclusion to an already dark collection of songs, and I'm really looking forward to "Volume II".

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Tracklist:
1. Scarecrow Overture
2. The Journey
3. The Final Problem
4. When the Powers of Evil Are Exalted
5. Worm of Anger
6. Autumn Wood
7. Madman
8. Scarecrow

LINE UP:
Artemis - vocals, harmonica, flute
Elijah - bass
Vadim - drums
Den - guitar